In this issue: Aid and international development
In this issue we are focusing on aid and international development. Parliamentary Select Committees have recently produced several reports about the UK's aid programmes, looking at how much aid we should give, where it should go, and whether it is reaching the people who need it most. Explore these questions, and look at the work of Parliamentary Select Committees, using the resources below.
In one minute
We gave Malcolm Bruce MP, Chair of the International Development Select Committee, one minute to answer the question: 'Do you think the UK should give aid to developing countries?' and other questions about development aid.
More videos
A season of films about aid and international development is now available from FILMCLUB to complement this issue of Central Lobby. FILMCLUB is a registered charity that helps schools to provide informal learning opportunities for students by setting up clubs to watch and discuss films. View details
For an explanation of the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee's report on the government's target of spending 0.7% of Gross National Income on aid, watch this video or find out more below.
Classroom resources
Explore aid, international development and the work of Select Committees with your students, using this presentation and pack of classroom activities.
What do the Select Committee reports on aid say?
Aid in fragile and conflict-affected states
Earlier this year, the House of Commons International Development Select Committee published a report recommending that the UK should continue to give aid to fragile states even if it costs more to achieve positive results than in stable countries. However, the government should set out what levels of accountability and transparency it expects from its partners overseas and should not be afraid to withdraw aid if they aren't met.
The report also said the government should be clear about which countries it funds and why. It looked particularly at aid programmes in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DCR). It recommended that in the DCR, the main priority should be to tackle violence against women and girls, while aid programmes in Rwanda should focus on improving governance and freedom of speech.
Should we spend 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) on aid?
The House of Lords Economic Affairs Select Committee published a report on the government's target of spending 0.7% of GNI on aid. It concluded that this target should be withdrawn and we should focus on making our aid programmes as effective as possible, not on how much money we spend.
The report supported government decisions to run down aid programmes to 16 countries, including China and Russia, and urged an early exit from the Indian development aid programme. It also called for greater efforts to identify and tackle corruption, and questioned the government figure for aid lost to fraud last year.
Other Select Committee reports
What are the issues?
Here are some issues your students will hear being discussed on this topic, including some that were raised by the Select Committees.
- Whose need is greatest? - At a time when the government is trying to cut the budget deficit, some people want the money spent on aid to be used at home. How do the needs of people in countries like the UK compare with needs elsewhere? And what is the best way to balance them?
- Does aid always reach the people who need it? - Some of the countries that receive UK aid have problems with corruption; others have recently come out of civil wars or don't have a stable government. Some of these regions are home to the people who need aid the most, so should we prioritise helping them? Or should we withdraw aid if there is a danger that some of it will go astray?
- Can aid be non-political? - How should we decide how much aid a country should receive? Is it based on need? Or should we give more to countries where there are some benefits for us, for example, where giving aid might improve our security?
- Is aid always the best type of help? - Should we focus on giving aid to countries in need or are there sometimes better alternatives? What is the role of measures like improving trade and economic growth? Can these options ever remove the need for aid, or are they complementary strategies?
- Do aid donors understand the needs of the people they want to help? - Some countries have very complex political situations and complex needs. Is it possible for donors like the UK, whose circumstances are very different, to understand the needs of these countries? Are there ways of ensuring we give the most useful kinds of help, for example, by involving members of local communities in decisions?
- How much aid should we give? - A number of European countries set a target of spending 0.7% of their annual budget on aid. Does having a target like this help to ensure that countries prioritise aid? Or should aid expenditure be decided in other ways, such as on a case-by-case basis?
- What would happen if we reduced aid? - If the UK gave less aid, what effect would this have? What might be the human cost? What is the potential impact on the UK's international standing and influence? Would there be hidden costs, such as increased conflict over resources? How should we balance these possible consequences against the cost of giving aid?
What do your students think about these issues?
More information
News round-up: Top stories this month
Aung San Suu Kyi's address in Parliament
Newly elected parliamentarian in Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi, addressed MPs and Members of the Lords in Westminster Hall on 21 June. The Nobel peace prize winner spoke about the progress of democracy in Burma and the role the UK and other countries can play in supporting it.
Lords concerned about 'closed trial' proposals
The House of Lords Constitution Committee has raised concerns about proposals to extend the use of 'closed trials'. The committee stressed the need to balance national security concerns (which sometimes lead to closed trials) against the need for fair administration of justice.
Will EU farming rules cut food production?
The EU's proposed 'greening' regulations would stop farmers tailoring their land management to local circumstances. This could harm the environment and reduce food production, according to a report by the House of Commons Environmental, Food and Rural Affairs Committee.